He Killed His Girlfriend Then Portrayed Himself as the Victim - Police Interrogation

October 7, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

On August 16, 2021, Tina Swer was found dead in her Spirit Lake, Idaho home. Her longtime boyfriend, John David Dalton Jr., was questioned by detectives and told a story in which he was the one who had been pushed to the breaking point. In the police interrogation featured in this episode, Dalton described a volatile relationship, a fatal argument, and a shooting he claimed he could barely remember—all while presenting himself as a man who had lost everything, including the woman he loved.

The Argument and the Shooting

Dalton told detectives that on the night of the killing, he and Tina returned home from a bar. According to him, the drive home was fine, but once inside, Tina began a verbal attack. He described her as a “female hot-headed Italian woman” who outweighed him by 30 pounds, and said she was deliberately trying to push his buttons. He claimed she told him she planned to financially ruin him—force him into bankruptcy, make him sell the house, and move in with one of three other people (including, he said, two lesbians and a man). “It's gonna happen two ways and you're gonna your life is gonna be ruined,” he quoted her as saying.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:03) **Case Introduction: The Death of Tina Swer** - Podcast host sets up the case: on August 16, 2021, Tina Swer was found dead in her Spirit Lake, Idaho home, and investigators are questioning her longtime boyfriend, John David Dalton Jr.
2 (02:04) **Dalton’s Account of the Argument** - Dalton describes the argument that led to the shooting, claiming Tina threatened to financially ruin him and was planning to move in with other people.
3 (10:07) **The Gun Enters the Story** - Dalton explains that the 9mm handgun used in the shooting belonged to Tina, and that she was the one who initially pulled it out.
4 (19:43) **After the Shooting: Flight and Confusion** - Dalton describes his actions immediately after the shooting, including leaving the house, changing clothes, and taking the guns with him.
5 (24:55) **The Days After: Wandering and Hiding** - Dalton recounts his movements over the following days, including driving into the woods, getting lost, and eventually returning to town.
6 (33:22) **Background and Psychological Profile** - The detectives shift to asking about Dalton’s personal history, including his upbringing, education, and any history of head trauma or psychological issues.
7 (38:11) **Relationship History and Prior Incidents** - Dalton discusses the troubled history of the relationship, including a prior incident involving a knife that led to a conviction.

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Show Notes

This police interview follows detectives questioning John David Dalton Jr. about Tina Swor's death, their relationship, and his movements after leaving the home. Dalton describes an argument and says he shot Swor; detectives also ask about his past conduct and the firearms he took with him.

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